South Sudan’s rival leaders agree on 60 day ultimatum

June 10, 2014 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudanese president Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar on Tuesday agreed to end the ongoing conflict in the country and fully engage in the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD)-led peace process.

South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir, and rebel leader Riek Machar signed a peace deal in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on 9 May 2014 aimed at resolving conflict in the country peacefully (Photo: Reuters)

In a communiqué, IGAD said both leaders had committed themselves to the formation of a transitional government of national unity within 60 days and ensure unhindered humanitarian support to affected people with immediate effect.

An extraordinary summit, chaired by Ethiopia’s prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn, was specifically convened by IGAD heads of states in Addis Ababa to discuss the South Sudan situation.

President Kiir and Machar met on the sidelines of the regional leaders’ summit seeking an end to the South Sudan crisis.

Summit participants applauded the two leaders on the signing of the landmark 9 May agreement, “which provided the basis for negotiating a transitional government of national unity; and committed them to ensure the inclusion of a broader range of South Sudanese stakeholders in the negotiations”.

IGAD regional leaders have also commended the initiation of the inclusive, multi-stakeholder phase of negotiations, through a symposium held from the 6-7 June, saying it provided a platform for constructive dialogue on key issues related to political transition and peaceful resolution of the crisis.

Over 200 South Sudanese participants drawn from a broad range of sectors and regions, including government, opposition, civil society and faith-based groups, attended the Addis Ababa conference.

IGAD mediators had earlier expressed concern over the failure by the two warring parties to adhere to provisions of signed ceasefire agreements, warning of tougher consequences.

IGAD member states also warned of possible “punitive” measures should parties to the South Sudanese conflict fail to honour their commitments to the resolutions contained in the communiqué.

The meeting between the two rival leaders was their second face to face meeting since conflict erupted in mid-December last year and follows the 9 May signing of a roadmap agreement to guide further negotiations.

MACHAR REACTS

Machar told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday after the meeting that both parties had recommitted themselves to respect the previous roadmap agreement and further negotiate a lasting peace agreement.

“We agreed to respect the roadmap agreement we signed on 9 May, recommitting ourselves to the cessation of hostilities agreement. We also agreed on free and unhindered humanitarian access to the needy populations,” Machar told Sudan Tribune from the Ethiopian capital on Tuesday.

The direct talks were held in the presence of Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni and a number of regional leaders.

Machar said an agreement was also reached on the phased withdrawal of Ugandan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) which are fighting alongside government forces in South Sudan.

Uganda is seen a key ally of president Kiir and analysts say the withdrawal of the Uganda troops would place complete responsibility for the protection of key economic zones and the country’s vital installations on regional troops to provide.

The former vice-president turned rebel leader explained that the two leaders also recommitted to widening the participation of civil society organisations, political parties and faith-based groups in ongoing peace negotiations.

He further explained that the two parties and other South Sudanese stakeholders will negotiate the future style of governance in South Sudan and reach a peace agreement in which a transitional government will be formed.

Rebel forces are demanding a complete restructure of the state based on a peace agreement and a federal constitution, a move resisted by the government.

DEAL WELCOMED

US special envoy to Sudan and South Sudan Donald Booth earlier stated that the ongoing IGAD-led mediation process offered the last best chance for peace in the world’s youngest nation.

“It is now time for true leaders to lead and for sustainable peace to take root and the rebirth of South Sudan,” he said.

Meanwhile, South Sudan’s Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO) has welcomed the outcome of the 10 June meeting between the rival leaders.

“The commitment they did for 60 days is good and this demonstrates that they want to give peace a chance. Besides this move, CEPO is urging both leaders to ensure that the military fighting taking place in some parts of Upper Nile and Unity states is ended as it demonstrates bad practices and was making civilians feel that seriousness for giving peace a chance was low and doubtful,” CEPO’s executive director, Edmund Yakani, told Sudan Tribune from Botswana.

CEPO has also urged both leaders to ensure the principles contained in signed agreements are “honoured and respected”.

COSTLY NEGOTIATIONS

Meanwhile, Gad’s executive secretary, Mahboub Maalim, said the cost of South Sudan’s peace process, which is supported by European Union, the European troika countries, had reached $17 million.

The violence in South Sudan has displaced more than a million people and killed thousands in what is the country’s worst-ever conflict since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011.

(ST)

COMMUNIQUE ON THE 26TH EXTRAORDINARY SUMMIT OF IGAD 10 JUNE 2014

Comments on the Sudan Tribune website must abide by the following rules. Contravention of these rules will lead to the user losing their Sudan Tribune account with immediate effect.

- No inciting violence
- No inappropriate or offensive language
- No racism, tribalism or sectarianism
- No inappropriate or derogatory remarks
- No deviation from the topic of the article
- No advertising, spamming or links
- No incomprehensible comments

Due to the unprecedented amount of racist and offensive language on the site, Sudan Tribune tries to vet all comments on the site.

There is now also a limit of 400 words per comment. If you want to express yourself in more detail than this allows, please e-mail your comment as an article to comment@sudantribune.com

Kind regards,

The Sudan Tribune editorial team.

11 June 2014 02:39, by Akol Liai Mager

The two war monger leaders think they are clever to send a country into abyss and still think they can be allowed to form another eight years government similiar to the first eight years of the same men with non-services delivery to the very people they calimed to have fought for. S Sudan just needs to be handed into safe hands of Ustaz Pagan Amum, Thomas Cirillo, Luka Biong and Joseph Bakasoro.

Akol Liai,
What do you want as opportunists in the third bloc? Do you want both Dr. Machar and Kiir to step down and you the scavengers to take over power only to loot again as usual? No, we the people of South Sudan will not allow opportunists like you or “selfish” people as said by Kenyan MPs to steal power with no sweat and programme to implement.

So, you want to get power by killing people? Go for it, and let’s be clear that you have already done so and never got it. Killing innocent people in order to get power is not the way. Just go back home and start using peaceful means, otherwise you and Riek have chosen an unend road.

The US special envoy to Sudan and South Sudan, Donald Booth stressed that "It is now time for true leaders to lead and for sustainable peace to take root and the rebirth of South Sudan".
Akol Liai Mager and likes, can you digest that statement? Who are the true leaders? Don’t tell me that Pagan Amuma whose name is among 75 corrupts leaders. This guy could have been a hero with the possibility of-

Con of leading the interims government, if he could have join Dr Macher’s camp. But because he a coward and conspirator, he took a direction against the very people who secure his release. LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I respect your comment and opinion but we have to be realistic and accept that neither Kiir nor Riak are the right people to take this Nation forward. These two have blood of thousands of south sudanese in their hands we need new leaders i don’t mind which region or tribe they are I am a patriotic citizen of South Sudan and i value all South Sudanese equally regardless of who they are.

Ok, tell me the leader you want to replace Dr. Machar and Kiir so that we do a proper background check on him or her. We want to know that better leader than Dr. Riek Machar. Or is he yet to be born? Besides, we don’t want coward opportunists who tried democratic means and got arrested and then begged to be released, only to shy away from alternative armed resistance to remove Kiir.

believe me my brother we have able bodied competent masses among the South Sudanese population who can uphold this country and unify it. I can’t go on mentioning names here and there Politics doesn’t need one to have been a soldier, minister or governor we have doctors , clerics, civil servants who can lead this country it is not necessarily Kiir & Riek only

The only stumbing block is lack of free political environment, assassinations, threats tyranny and of course Salva Kirr’s dictatorship. Another element is the ego when a leader ascends to power the egocentric element crops in and I am afraid to say this would take the better of Riek Machar should he happen to become a leader. I want a freely unified South Sudan for all South Sudanese.

Dear all,
The federal system is the people choice and must be lead by federal person who knows how to govern it, however Dr. Riek should lead the system like how he led the people of republic of South Sudan to referendum that let to separation from the North Sudan, Dr. Riek demanded self determination in 1991 and 20years later South Sudan separated from North Sudan in his watch.

During his years as vice president Dr. Riek was the only wise man who did a lot in the rotten government under Salva Kiir but now as the people of South Sudan have seen the truth color of Kiir, then this is Dr. Riek’s biggest chance to lead this federal system, because it would make senses for person who doesn’t understands the system to lead the system, that can create another masses.

@all. What would Riek and Kir achieved that they have not during the last 8 years of their reign?
We all believed that Kir impose the war! yes I agree but why did it happened after Riek was sacked? Riek reacted negatively after he was sacked! and began to behave funny even in churches. So both Riek & Kir do not deserve to rule South Sudan again. They are both responsible for the current crisis.

Holding accountable those enabling genocide in Sudan2016-12-05 05:30:49
Eric Reeves
As grim genocide by attrition in Darfur is set to enter its fifteenth year, as Khartoum’s claim of a purely nominal “cease-fire” in South Kordofan is belied by repeated reports of Sudan (...)